UMass officials hopeful increased state funding will pass

The state budget proposal that Massachusetts lawmakers are looking at today would increase funding for the University of Massachusetts system to $479 million for the next school year.

That budget would allow UMass to freeze the tuition and fees students are charged at last year’s rate. University officials appeared optimistic it will pass, according to a statement issued earlier today.

The state budget proposal that Massachusetts lawmakers are looking at today would increase funding for the University of Massachusetts system to $479 million for the next school year.

That budget would allow UMass to freeze the tuition and fees students are charged at last year’s rate. University officials appeared optimistic it will pass, according to a statement issued earlier today.

A conference committee including members of both the House and Senate approved a $34 billion staate budget and referred it to both legislative chambers today.

UMass President Robert Caret said the committee “has taken a major step on the university’s behalf.” It allows the university to freeze tuition and fees, “while at the same time continuing to provide the high level of academic quality that our students deserve and expect.”

Caret continued, “A strong and affordable University of Massachusetts system is critical to the state’s social and economic future, and we believe that the dramatic expression of support we have received from the committee will aid us immeasurably as we seek to provide ever-greater levels of service to the Commonwealth and its citizens.”

The last time a tuition freeze or reduction had occurred was in the late 1990s, according to UMass Dartmouth spokesman John Hoey.